News

“The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”: Congress adopts report on municipal elections and calls for a pluralistic media landscape

“The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”: Congress adopts report on municipal elections and calls for a pluralistic media landscape[31/10/2013]

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe debated and today adopted a recommendation and resolution on the municipal elections of 24 March 2013 in “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”. “These elections were well-prepared, efficiently administered, conducted in an orderly manner and carried out in accordance with the standards for democratic elections “, stated Juri Landberg (Estonia, L, ILDG), Congress Rapporteur and Head of delegation. He underlined however that he and his delegation had noted a partisan election campaign slanted in favour of the ruling coalition, and therefore recommended “that “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” ensures a pluralistic media landscape and appropriate working conditions for journalists, in harmony with genuinely democratic values”. He went on to mention the delegation’s concern that as a consequence of the present global economic and financial crisis, several municipalities reported problems in organising the elections, owing to a lack of financial resources. Joseph Cordina, representing the EU’s Committee of the Regions, who had participated in the observation mission and also took part in the debate, likewise welcomed the smooth running of the elections and identified a notable improvement from those held four years previously.